He and many other sportsmen had long hunted along the banks of the Rio Grande, bringing home the dove, quail and waterfowl drawn to the water.

There were "no trespassing" signs on the federal levees nearby, but there was an understanding that no one seemed to mind the sportsmen, bikers, dog walkers and others who enjoyed the federal land, Bates said. Hunting and shooting were technically prohibited, though enforcement was left up to local law enforcement agencies.

"Everyone was under the same impression that, as long as nothing happened, it was OK," Bates said.

Then new, orange signs appeared on the levees around the Rio. "No hunting. No shooting."

Now, requests from hunters, recreationists and the state Game and Fish Department have led the federal International Boundary and Water Commission to consider changing its "no hunting" policy. The agency will likely allow bird hunting on rural parts of its land along the Rio Grande, pending an environmental impact assessment and public input.

"We recognize there has been hunting that has been occurring," IBWC foreign affairs officer Sally Spener said. "The point was that we want to have clear guidelines and appropriate areas."

The proposal would allow hunting on much of the IBWC-owned land, though it would still be prohibited near Las Cruces and again south of Vado through El Paso.

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The IBWC doesn't own Seldon Canyon — a popular hunting spot north of Las Cruces — so it can't authorize hunting in that area, said Sheryl Franklin, operations and maintenance division chief of USIBWC.

Hunting has been allowed along the Rio south of El Paso for years.

"We've been evolving as the agency realized the public is interested in having access to the river," from bicyclists to hunters, Spener said.

The changes likely wouldn't be in effect until November, after the beginning of dove season.

An environmental report on the proposed policy will be released this week. It looks at the areas under consideration for hunting and the conditions and impacts if allowed.

The agency will then take public comments on the plan for 30 days.

Non-game birds are protected under state law. Only game birds could be hunted on the land, including quail, waterfowl and dove.

"The river obviously attracts those," Bates said. "It was a big issue for sportsmen because, essentially, not having access to the river was eliminating opportunities for people to go bird hunting."

Hunting is still subject to federal, state and local laws, including those on licenses and bag limits. Hunters would also be asked to clean up all trash and brass and not drive on levee slopes.

Private property and endangered species remain off-limits, as well as areas near residences.

The agency chose where to allow hunting based on habitat restoration areas and nearby residences, marking proposed zones with easily identifiable landmarks. Hunting is permitted, for example, from the southern boundary of Leasburg Dam State Park south to Shalem Colony Trail. It is then prohibited near Las Cruces through to the Mesilla Dam.

There would be no fees to hunt on the land as the IBWC doesn't have congressional approval nor the resources to charge patrons, Franklin said.
Bates, from the Southwest Consolidated Sportsmen coalition, said the proposal is "reasonable and logical."

"I think everybody's happy about it," he said.

Lindsey Anderson may be reached at 575-541-5462. Follow @l_m_anderson on Twitter.